The Australian independent said it began testing the horizontal well at the Umiat oil field on March 21 and planned to release results soon after completing and analyzing the test.

The flow test is the first on a well in the Umiat field in at least 35 years, and the first ever on a horizontal well at the field, which is in the foothills of the Brooks Range Mountains.

While Linc drilled the Umiat No. 18 vertical well last winter, the company was unable to complete a planned flow test because of mechanical problems. To avoid those problems this time around, Linc is using a slotted liner to mimic an open-hole completion scheme.

“The horizontal well and slotted liner philosophy that have been used on this well No. 23H are also an important factor, as this combination is a large part of the development philosophy of the Umiat field going forward,” CEO Peter Bond said in a statement.

The Umiat oil field is generally considered to be the largest known and undeveloped oil field in Alaska, with 154.5 million proved and probable barrels of oil equivalent.

—Eric Lidji